Combination brush holder,water container,and paint tray for artists



. F. R. MADDEN 3,532,222 COMBINATION BRUSH HOLDER, WATER CONTAINER, AND

Oct. 6, 197

PAINT TRAY FOR ARTISTS Filed Feb. 24, 1969 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 FRANCIS R. MADDEN ATTORN Oct. 6, 19% F. R. MADDEN 3,532,222

COMBINATION BRUSH HOLDER, WATER CONTAINER, AND

' PAINT TRAY FOR ARTISTS Filed Feb. 24, 1969 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR FRANCIS R. MADDEN BY /ZW 1 ATTORNEY$ United States Patent 3,532,222 COMBINATION BRUSH HOLDER, WATER CONTAINER, AND PAINT TRAY FOR ARTISTS Francis R. Madden, 3414 Garbett St., McKeesport, Pa. 15132 Filed Feb. 24, 1969, Ser. No. 801,496 Int. Cl. A47b 81/02 US. Cl. 211-65 7 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE This specification discloses a combination brush holder, water container and paint tray intended primarily for use by artists. It comprises a base of generally rectangular formation with a tongue extending rearwardly from the midpoint of a long side and a pair of ears, each havin a vertical opening at the short sides. The tongue is bent upwardly, and connected to the upper end by a screw and slot connection is an elongated brush holder having a plurality of brush receiving wells arranged in a row. The base is flanged, and removably positioned therein is a water container. A paint tray having two rows of paint receiving depressions is formed with a pair of arms, each having a pin detachably received in one of the ears.

The present invention relates broadly to accessories used by artists and is concerned primarily with a combination brush holder, water container and paint tray which presents advantages from the aspect of convenience of use.

BACKGROUND OF INVENTION At the present time there is known, and available to the public, many types of pen holders in which a pen is held in a position convenient to an inkwell. These devices are not adapted to use by artists because the pen holders are not designed to receive brushes and hold them at a desired angle. while it has been proposed to provide a pen holder that is also susceptible of use as a brush holder in which the implement holding devices are arranged in a circle about a central well, no provision is made for providing a water container including separate compartments which is desirable for painting. Also no provision is made for adjusting the angle of inclination of the brush holder.

A further shortcoming of known devices is to provide means for detachably securing a paint tray to the base which carries the water containers and brush holders.

SUMMARY OF INVENTION The above noted insufficiencies and defects in the known devices of this character are remedied by the present invention which provides a base of generally rectangular formation. This base has a flange upstanding from its periphery and removably positioned therein is a water container that is partitioned to form two compartments.

Outstanding from a long edge of the base at the midpoint thereof is a tongue that is bent upwardly at a point spaced from the base to provide a vertical standard. An elongated brush holder presenting a row of wells peculiarly designed to receive the handles of paint brushes has a 3,532,222 Patented Oct. 6, 1970 forwardly extending arm at its bottom and this arm is slotted. A headed screw passes through this slot and is anchored in the end of the vertical standard. Thus a wide range of adjustment as to the relative positions of the brush holder and base and angle of inclination between the two is provided.

The base is formed with an ear outstanding from each end. These ears have vertical passages. A paint tray has a pair of arms extending rearwardly therefrom, that is towards the base. A pin is carried at the end of each of these arms and these pins may be positioned in the passages of the ears to detachably assemble the paint tray with the base.

In use the device of this invention presents many practical advantages. In the first instance provision is made for assembling the brushes, water and paint in convenient relation. Secondly, the brushes are arranged in a line which makes selection of the proper one an easy matter. Moreover, the angular position of the brush holder is adjustable to afford a maximum of convenience in brush selection.

The water container is removable from the base which facilitates changing the water, and the provision of two separate water compartments makes it easier to wash and rinse brushes. The paint tray being detachable from the base makes storage of the entire assembly when not in use an easy matter.

Various other more detailed objects and advantages of the invention such as arise in connection with carrying out the above noted ideas in a practical embodiment will in part become apparent and in part be hereinafter stated as the description of the invention proceeds.

For a full and more complete understanding of the invention reference may be had to the following description and accompanying drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective of the combined brush holder, water container, and paint tray of this invention as assembled for use.

FIG. 2 is another perspective illustrating the several elements in exploded relation.

FIG. 3 is a side elevation View of the assembly.

FIG. 4 is a vertical section taken about on the plane represented by the lines 44 of FIG. 1; and

FIG. 5 is a detailed section through the pivotal mounting of the brush holder, being taken about on the plane represented by the line 55 of FIG. 4.

The several components of the assembly provided by this invention may be made of just about any material deemed desirable. Thus they may be of wood, plastic or metal with aluminum indicated as the preferred metal.

Referring now to the drawings, wherein like reference characters denote corresponding parts, and first more particularly to FIG. 2 a base is identified in its entirety by the reference character B. It comprises a bottom 10 of what might be called a generally rectangular shape. More particularly it is defined by a long .rear edge made up of converging straight edge sections 11 and 12 disposed at a slight angle with respect to each other and meeting at an apex 13; a long front edge consisting of straight edge sections 14 and 15; and short side edges 16 and 17.

A peripheral flange 18 extends upwardly from the edge sections 11, 12, 14 and 15 and side edges 16 and 17. This flange 18 is continuous and is preferably integral with the bottom 10. The corners where the flanges on the long edges join the side edges are rounded as indicated at 19. There is also a slight curve above the apex 13 and the corresponding apex on the front edge, these being shown at 20.

Carried by the flange 18 at each side edfe, and preferably integral therewith is an ear 21 formed with a vertical passage 22. Extending rearwardly from the flange 18 and bottom at the rounded joinder at the long rear edge is a tongue 23 that is turned upwardly to provide a vertical standard 24 having a threaded aperture 25 (see FIG. 5).

A brush holder is referred to generally at H. It is of any of the materials above mentioned and is of a narrow elongated shape provided by flat faces 26 on the front and rear and rounded end surfaces 27. The brush holder H presents a top face 28 and a bottom face 29 (see FIG. 4). Opening into the top face 28 are a plurality of wells 30, each designed to receive the pointed end of a paint brush of the type commonly used by artists. Thus each Well 30 has a triangular open end at the top face 28 and a closed bottom 31 (FIG. 4) spaced from the bottom face 29. The number of wells 30 may vary in accordance With the needs of any particular set, but in the illustrated embodiment there are ten of these wells 30.

Extending forwardly from the front face 30 of the holder 14 and substantially midway the ends thereof adjacent to the bottom face 29 is an arm 32 formed with a longitudinal slot 33. When the holder H is assembled on the base B this arm 32 overlies the upper end of standard 24 and a screw 34 having a kerfed head 35 passes through slot 33 with its threaded shank being screwed into aperture 25. This connection, which partakes of the character of a pivotal connection, permits of the adjustment of the holder H relative to base B both as to relative distance and angle of inclination.

A water container is identified in its entirety by the reference character C. It includes a bottom wall 36 of the same configuration as the bottom 10;v of base B. Upstanding from the periphery of bottom wall 36 is wall structure comprising: side walls 37 and front and rear walls each consisting of converging sections 38 and 39. Where the latter meet there is a slight curve as shown at 40. Where each section 38 and 39 meets a side wall 37, there is a rounded corner 41 for ease of cleaning. Thus the container C may be snugly nested within the flange 18 of base B with the bottom wall 36 resting on bottom 10 (FIG. 4).

The container 'C has a central partition 42 which extends between the joinders of the wall sections 38 and 39 and upwardly from the bottom Wall 36. It divides the container C into two separate compartments each adapted to receive Water for washing and rinsing brushes. While the container C may be of any of the materials above noted, it is shown as being of plastic as such a material readily lends itself to achieving the structure illustrated.

A paint tray is identified generally at T. It comprises a top wall 43 from which depends a front flange 44. Extending rearwardly from the top wall 43 and at each side thereof is an arm 45 from the underside of which projects a pin 46. When the tray T is assembled with base B the pins 46 are received in the passages 22 in ears 21. At the same time the lower edge of flange 44 will rest on the same surface as that which supports base B.

The top wall 43 is formed with a plurality of depressions or recesses each intended to receive a paint material. The number and arrangement of such depressions is susceptible to an almost infinite number of variations. In the illustrated embodiment there is a row of circular depressions 47 along the rear edge of top wall 43. Thus by Way of example there are seven of these concave circular depressions 47. Each of the latter is intended to receive a paint of a particular color.

Along the front edge the material of which the tray T is made is deformed to provide a row of depressions 48 each having a rectangular or square open top and an inclined bottom 49 that extends from a top edge 50 flush with the upper surface 43 to the lower edge of a rear wall 51. The several rectangular depressions 40 are separated by vertical, triangularly shaped partitions 52. These depressions 48 are intended to receive different shades of gray, and as illustrated seven of them are provided; but this pumber is, of course, subject to variation.

While a preferred specific embodiment of the invention is hereinbefore set forth, it is to be clearly understood that the invention is not to be limited to the exact construction, arrangements, and design illustrated and described because various modifications of these details may be provided in putting the invention into practice.

What is claimed is:

1. In a combination brush holder, water container, and paint tray:

(a) a base of generally rectangularly shape defined by long front and rear edges and short side edges and comprising a bottom, elements of a detachable connection outstanding from the side edges, and a tongue extending rearwardly from substantially the midpoint of the long rear edge and terminating in a vertical standard,

(b) an elongated brush holder having a plurality of brush handle receiving wells arranged in a row and opening onto the upper face thereof, and an arm extending forwardly of said brush holder from a location adjacent to the bottom thereof and substantially midway the ends thereof,

(0) an adjustable pivotal connection between said arm and said standard, said connection including means for clamping said arm and standard in an adjusted position,

(d) a water container of the same shape as said base and dimensioned to be snugly and detachably nested within said peripheral flange, and

(e) a paint tray comprising a top wall formed with a plurality of paint receiving depressions, a front flange depending from the front edge of said top Wall, a pair of arms extending rearwardly from the sides of said top wall, and elements of said detachable connections carried by the free ends of said arms and complemental to the elements of the detachable connection on said base.

2. The combination brush holder, water container and paint tray of claim 1 in which said detachable connections comprise ears having vertical passages on the base and pins depending from the arms and received in said passages.

3. The combination brush holder, Water container, and paint tray of claim 1 in which the adjustable pivotal connection comprises a threaded aperture in the upper end of said standard, a slot in the arm of said brush holder, and a headed screw passing through said slot and screwed into said aperture.

4. The combination brush holder, water container and paint tray of claim 1 in which the wells in the brush holder are of trangular shape at their open tops and taper to closed bottoms.

5. The combination brush holder, water container, and paint tray of claim 1 in which the water container is formed with a partition providing two separate compartments.

6. The combination brush holder, water container, and paint tray of claim 1 which said base and water container have long front and rear edges each defined by two angularly related sections meeting at an apex with the joinders at the apexes being curved and the curves where the sections join the short sides being rounded.

7 The combination brush holder, water container, and paint tray of claim 1 in which the tray is formed with two rows of depressions, each depression of one row 5 6 including an inclined bottom having a front edge flush 2,940,200 6/1960 'Endlich 211-65 X with the top wall of the tray. 2,975,545 3/1961 Moore 211-65 3,203,555 8/1965 Garlia 211-65 References Cited 3,286,847 11/1966 Le Blane 211-65 UNITED STATES PATENTS 5 NILE c. BYERS, JR., Primary Examiner 156,572 11/1875 James 211-65 289,700 12/1883 Parker 211-65 X US. Cl. X.R.

2,935,206 5/1960 Smith 211-65 211-692 

